GLENN Poole says Billericay Town will be facing the best side he has played against this season, when his former side Grays Athletic visit New Lodge tonight.

The 34-year-old will take on Grays for the third time this season, after he made the switch back to Billericay from Canvey Island last month.

Poole was part of team’s that lost 2-0 and 3-0 to Grays, currently managed by former Southend United midfielder Mark Bentley, and he is now looking to turn the tables on his old employers.

However, his priority will be getting some minutes under his belt, having failed to complete 90 minutes since Canvey’s match against Burgess Hill on December 12. And he is hoping the weather stays dry, after Saturday’s match with Lewes was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

“It has been frustrating, particularly for me as I haven’t played 90 minutes of first-team football for about two months,” said Poole. “It has been difficult to get into a rhythm all the while games have been called off but we need to get back to winning ways and we believe we can do that tomorrow.

“Grays were the best team we played while I was at Canvey. When they played at Canvey they absolutely tore us apart and were very impressive. It was a closer game at their place but they are a slightly different team to the one we played back then.

“They have lost some big players. The likes of Jay Leader, James Stevens and Nathan Ferguson have all left and those were three important players for them.”

Poole played 112 times for Grays, winning the FA Trophy with the club back in 2006. He is still well regarded by the club’s supporters and says he always enjoys matches against his former sides.

But he insists the team is fully focused on getting the result they need, and getting back into the promotion race, after they dropped to four points off the play-off places.

“I always enjoy playing against sides I hold affection for,” said Poole. “I have a lot of time for the people at Grays and they have always been very good to me. The club has changed a lot since I was there but I always enjoy seeing their supporters.”

“The other teams are getting more points on the board but we cannot afford to spend too much time looking at others. I haven’t looked at the table since Saturday as all we can do is win our games.

“And we will look to do that tonight.”